American General Aircraft AG5B accident near Beaufort, North Carolina, May 12, 2003
On May 12, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a American General Aircraft AG5B, registered N1193W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaufort, North Carolina (Michael J. Smith Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the checklist and set the parking brake which resulted in the airplane colliding with a parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Beaufort, North Carolina · Michael J. Smith Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American General Aircraft AG5B
- Registration
- N1193W · no longer on the register · serial 10072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that initial attempts to start the airplane were unsuccessful due to a low battery. The pilot primed the engine and opened the throttle approximately 1/4 inch and instructed his passenger to hold the brakes while he hand started the engine. The passenger, a non-pilot, was pressing on the rudder and not the brakes. After the engine started, the airplane began to move and the pilot attempted to board the airplane but failed. The aircraft continued its movement until it struck a parked airplane. The pilot did not report setting the parking brake prior to hand propping the engine. According to the airplane's before starting engine checklist the parking brake should have been set. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 270 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, March 15, 2002; 270 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRH Beaufort NC at 3:00 pm
- Destination: HRJ Erwin NC
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from MRH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.